NAPTIP and France launch PROTECT project to combat West African human trafficking

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and Expertise France have launched the PROTECT project to combat human trafficking across West Africa. Funded by the French Development Agency (AFD), the initiative aims to strengthen institutional and operational capacities in Nigeria, Benin, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Togo.

The project focuses on a “4Ps approach”: Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, and Partnership. It specifically targets the disruption of criminal networks, financial systems, and cross-border partnerships. NAPTIP Director-General Binta Adamu-Bello noted that traffickers are increasingly utilizing social media and digital platforms for recruitment and exploitation, making the crime more complex to combat.

This initiative builds upon previous collaborations between 2019 and 2024, which included the establishment of a digital travel declaration platform and a toll-free reporting line. The new project seeks to address gaps in regional cooperation and enhance gender-sensitive responses to trafficking.